A draft resolution states that the General Assembly may “suspend the membership rights of a member of the Human Rights Council who commits blatant and systematic violations of human rights”. The draft resolution adds that the council expresses “grave concern” over reports of “serious and systematic human rights violations and violations” and “violations of international humanitarian law” committed by the Russian Federation during its invasion of Ukraine. The General Assembly had to vote in favor of the two thirds of the countries present and voting in favor of Russia’s removal from the UN Human Rights Council. The measure suspends Russia’s participation in the Council and will begin a review of the issue if the UN deems it appropriate. The United States’s ambassador to the United Nations has called for Russia to suspend its membership in the UN Security Council before the UN Security Council on Tuesday, prompting pressure from her and other UN member states. “Russia should not have a position of power in an institution whose purpose – its very purpose – is to promote respect for human rights. It is not just the culmination of hypocrisy – it is dangerous,” she said. Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “Every day we see more and more of Russia respecting human rights,” he said. “Russia’s participation in the Human Rights Council is damaging to the credibility of the Council. It undermines the whole of the UN. And it is simply wrong,” he said. Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called on all UN member states to support the resolution, which suspends Russia, before the vote on Thursday. “Now the world is at a critical juncture. We are witnessing our ship going through an insidious fog of deadly icebergs. It may seem that we should have called it Titanic instead of Human Rights Council … We need to take action today “to save the council from sinking,” Kyslytsya said. The Ukrainian ambassador said that Russia’s actions in Ukraine “will be equated with war crimes and crimes against humanity.” He noted that the vote to suspend a country by the Human Rights Council was “a rare and extraordinary action”, adding that “Russia’s actions are beyond pale”. In response, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Gennady Kuzmin, called on member states to reject the resolution, saying it would set a “dangerous precedent”. “Today is neither the time nor the place for theatrical performances or such highly theatrical performances as the one presented by Ukraine. In fact, the draft resolution we are considering today has nothing to do with the real situation of human rights on the ground.” said Kuzmin said. The Russian spokesman said the vote to suspend Russia by the Human Rights Council “is an attempt by the United States to maintain its sovereign position and full control to continue its efforts to colonize human rights in international relations.” Louis Sarbono, the UN director at the Observatory for Human Rights, said in a statement that Russia’s suspension sent a “crystal clear message” that they had “no job” in the council. “The General Assembly has sent a crystal clear message to the Russian leadership that a government whose army regularly commits horrific human rights abuses has no job in the UN Human Rights Council,” Sarbono said. “The horrific images of Bouha have shocked people around the world. The victims and their families deserve to be held accountable. Investigators from the UN and the International Criminal Court must move the wheels of justice.” quickly to gather and preserve evidence of war crimes. “ This story has been updated with additional developments on Thursday.
